Automatic reroll device for player-pianos



O. M. KENNEDY. AUTOMATIC REROLL DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPIQICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1918.

1% m M w w I A m m J m &

0. M. KENNEDY.

AUTOMATIC REROLL DEVICE FOR PLAYER HANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, I918.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

N 6 M .m n W o N 7 T I //WM Au i .6 W m WITNESS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS M. KENNEDY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 CUNNINGHAM PIANO COMPANY, A CORPGR-ATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC REROLL DEVICE FOR PLAYER-PIANOS.

Application filed June 13, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Orrs M. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented Automatic Reroll Devices for Player- Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

In known mechanical musical instruments employing a music roll which is unwound during the operation of the mechanism in playing the selection contained in the music roll, manually controlled means are provided for rewinding the unwound music roll, said means being usually manipulated by. the op erator through a hand lever provided for that purpose. It is the object of this invention to provide automatic means for rerolling the music sheet after the rendition of the selection thereon by providing mechanism which will automatically throw into ope 'ation a rewinding mechanism in dependently of any manipulation by the operator and requiring no attention therefor on his part, a particular feature of the invention being to provide mechanism which may be automatically operated by any music sheet after the end of the roll has been reached without necessitating the use of a modified type of roll, thus producing mechanism which may be used with any and all types of music rolls.

Further objects of this invention relate to the provision of means which may be used in conjunction with, and, if desired, applied in operative connection through any type of manually operated rerolling IHGCllMIlSHl new in use without interfering with the manual manipulation thereof so that the manual actuation may be resorted to as desired to reroll the music sheet at the end of the roll or to replay certain portions of the selection thereon.

Further objects of this invention are to provide mechanism which may be readily attached to any type of player piano already constructed as well as connected with new pianos of various constructions being manufactured. Further objects of this invention relate to the provision of a particularly eliicient type of mechanism illustrated in the drawings forming a part hereof as embodying one means for carrying this invention into effect.

It is to be understood that this invention Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Serial No. 239,726.

contemplates broadly the combination of instrumentalities con'iprising the provision of means actuated by surface contact of the roll whereby, through interposed pneumatic instrumentalities, the mechanically operating unwinding and re-winding devices are or may be automatically controlled.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a piano showing one means for reducing my invention to practice associated therewith, while Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness.

In Fig. 1 0f the drawings there is illustrated one type of known manually actuated rerolling mechanism in connection with which an automatic mechanism controlled by the music sheet for rerolling the same constituting this invention is shown as applied. As is well known in the art, the music sheet 10 is applied in the form of a roll 11 by inserting the roll 11 in supporting shafts '12 and 13 provided for that purpose. The

music sheet 10 is commonly wound, from its terminal end, on a roller 11 to which it is operatively attached, fixedly, as indicated in Fig. 2, and is supplied, usually, with an eyelet at its opposite end, as is well known, whereby it may be removably attached to the take-up roller 16. In playing, it is unwound by being drawn down over the tracker bar 15 by rotation of the takeup roll 16 which is driven by a suitable driving mechanism actuated by a pneun'iatic motor 17, for example. In the type of piano illustrated herein, the foot treadles 20 are connected by suitable links 21 to the feeders 2: 2 which maintain a vacuum in the reservoir 23, the same being connected by suitable passages Qd, speed controlling valve mechanism 25 and pipe 26 to the motor 17. The motor 17 operates to drive a sprocket wheel. 18 connected by a chain 19 to a shaft 27. The shaft 27 is provided with a pinion 29 adapted to mesh with a gear 30 which in turn is connected to the take-up roll 16. By this mechanism it will be seen that upon an operation of the motor 1'7 the roll 16 will be rotated to unwind the music sheet 10 from the roll 11 over the tracker bar onto the take-up roll 16.

One type of manually actuated rerolling mechanism is shown herein and comprises means to throw the pinion 29 out of engagement with the gear 30 and throw the driving shaft 27 into operative position to rotate the shaft 13 of the roll 11 in the direction to rewind the music sheet thereon. Thus the shaft 27 is made slidable in its bearings having thereon a collar 32 secured to the shaft 27 and associated with which is a shifting lever 33 pivoted in any suitable manner, as at 34. The lower end of the lever 33 has pivoted thereto a rod 35 provided with an upturned end 36 for connecting the same to an arm 37 secured to an upright rod 38. The rod 38 at its lower end has an offset projection 39 pivoted to a rod 40, located underneath the keybed of the piano, preferably at the rearmost portion thereof, to which is pivotally connected a link 41 offset from a forwardly extending rod 42. Secured to the rod 42 at the forward end thereof, is a hand lever 43 extending upwardly through the key bed in a position to be readily manipulated by the operator. From the lever connections described, it will be apparent that upon a manipulation of the hand piece 43, the shifting lever 33 will be moved so as to slide the shaft 27 longitudinally and disengage the pin 29 from the gear 30.

Mechanism is provided so that as the shaft 27 is slid in the manner indicated, the same will be thrown into operative engagement with means to drive the roll 11 in the reverse direction and rewind the music sheet thereon. Thus, a sprocket wheel 45 is loosely carried by the shaft 27 and has projecting'therefrom a pin &6 with which a ooacting projection 4L8 on the collar 32, for example, is adapted to contact to cause the sprocket wheel 45 to be driven from the shaft 27. A chain 48 is adapted to be driven by the sprocket, wheel 45 and passes over the sprocket 1 :9 on the shaft 13 which supports the roll 11. In order to keep the music sheet taut, both during the unwinding of the music sheet and the rewinding thereof, it is customary to apply a brake mechanism, such as that shown at 52, to the shaft 13 during the imwinding of the roll and a brake mechanism 53 to the take-up roll 16 during the rerolling of the music sheet and any means may be employed to throw the brake 52 into operation during unwinding, during which time the brake 53 is maintained unapplied, while means are used to throw the brake 52 out of operation and the brake 53 into operation during rewinding of the music sheet. The brake 52 is held by a spring 55 in engagement with a drum 56 on the shaft 13 while a lever 57, pivoted at 58 and operated from the shifting lever 33, has a beveled end 60 for coacting with an inclined end 61 of thebrake member 52 to release the same when the lever 57 is moved in the-proper direction. Likewise the brake is carried by an upright stud 65 having a spring arm 66 engaged by the lower portion of the shifting lever to throw the brake 53 on and off upon a manipulation of the shifting lever 33 as heretofore described.

111 certain types of rewinding mechanism, it is customary to provide means for increasing the speed of the motor 17 when the rewinding mechanism is thrown into operation. There is, therefore, shown a bypass and valve 70 interposed in the passage to the pipe to openduring reroll, an opening thereto and hence increase the vacuum under which the motor 17 is operated. The valve 70 is provided with the valve stem 71 which in turn is pivoted at 72 to a bell crank lew er 73- The other arm of the bell crank lever 73 is connected by links 74 and 75 to the rod 40- In this manner, upon a manipulation of the finger piece 43 to throw into operation the rewinding mechanism, the valve 70 is moved in such position as to open wide the bypass to the pipe 26 and thus increase the speed of the motor 17 regardless of the speed of the motor when the end of the selection was reached which is usually controlled by an automatic means not shown herein. The valve 70 is closed during the playing of the selection, the connection to the motor 17 from the feeder 22 then being by way of the main passages.

The mechanism thus far described illustrates one type of hand manipulated rewinding mechanism. ()ne suitable mechanism for automatically accomplishing the rewinding of the music roll and constituting one embodiment of this invention, will now be described. Thus, there is provided a pneumatic preferably located underneath the key bed of the piano and provided with an extension 81 adapted to normally lie loosely in contact with a projection or lip 82 on the rod 40. The pneumatic 80 is-connected by a tube 85 to the exhaust feeder 22 through the passage 2. for example, and means are provided to effect a collapse of the pneumatic 80 to cause the extension 81 to move the rod 40 to throw into operation the music sheet rewinding mechanism, such means being of a character to be manipulated by any type of music roll after the end of the roll has been reached. To these ends the pneumatic 80 is connected by a tube 87 which extends upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to a valve seat 88, suitably positioned adjacent the music sheet as the same is unwound. A valve 90 is adapted to normally cut off the tube 87 from eon'nnunication with the atmosphere by contact with the valve seat 88, the valve being actuated by a pivoted arm )1 through the intervention, preferably, of a screw 90, and connected to the other end of the pivoted arm 91 is a spring 92, the other end of the spring being attached to a. fixed part of the piano, as, for example, a bracket 93 which may be used as means to support the end of the tube 87 and valve seat 88. The arm 91 is adapted to contact with the music sheet on either side thereof and for that purpose may be provided with a roller 94. if desired.

An admission of air to the tube 87 is adapted to effect a collapse of the pneumatic 80 and various types of pneumatirs could readily be employed to operate in this manner, the one illustrated in the drawings being shown merely for the purpose of illustration. In the particular type shown, the collapsible pneumatic 80 is connected by a passage 100 to the valve chamber 101. Below the valve chamber 101 is the vacuum chamber 102 connected with which is the exhaust feeder pipe 85. The chamber 101 has an opening 103 to the atmosphere and an openinglOat to theexhaust chamber 102 while a valve stem 105 carries a valve 106 for the opening 103 and a valve 107 for the opening 104:. The valve stem 105 extends downwardly, as shown, and may be provided, if desired, with a head 109 and below this head is located a chamber 110, covered by a pouch 112, the chamber 110 being connected to the tube 87, as shown. A small bleed passage 113 places the chamber 110 and tube 87 in communication with the exhaust chamber 102. Normally the valve 107 is seated against the opening 104 and the opening 103 places the passage 100 and collapsible pneumatic 80 in communication with the atmosphere and upon the admission of air to the tube 87, the pouch 112 is forced upwardly against the head 109 to cause the valve stem 105 to move the valve 106 against the opening 103 to the atmosphere and move the valve 107 away from the opening 10%, as shown in Fig. 2. This action places the pneumatic 80 in communication with the vacuum chamber 102 and collapses the pneumatic 80, as will be readily understood to those skilled in the art. lVhen the air is cut off to the tube 87. the exhaust pipe 8:) creates a vacuum in the chamber 110 and pipe 87 through the bleed hole 137 which causes the valve stem 105 to return to normal position with the valve 107 in contact with the opening: 104 to the vacuum chamber and the valve 106 open to the atmosphere. This causes a restoration of the pneumatic 80, which may be assisted by a spring 115, if desired.

The means whereby the air is admitted to the tube 87 controlled by any music sheet after the end of the music roll has been reached, constitutes one of the essential. teatures of this invention. The operation of the particular means shown will be readily understood from the foregoing and reference to Fig, 2 of the drawings. Before the end of the roll has been reached, the music sheet assumes the position shown in dotted lines between the roll 11 and the tracker duct 15 and in this position of the parts he spring 92 holds the valve 90 against the valve seat 88 cutting oil the tube 87 from communication with the atmosphere. Upon a substantial completion of the unwinding operation the music sheet assumes approximately the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, tending to be slightly turned un der the roll 11 as indicated. this action having the effect of moving the arm 91 about its pivot to release the valve 90 from its closed position against the end or the tube 87. The admission of air thereto causes an immediate collapse of the pneumatic 80, as described, whereupon the extension 81 slides the rod e10 to the right as shown in Fig. 1, thro ing into operation the rewinding mechanism and increasing the speed ot the motor 17 in the manner hereinbeitore in dicated and as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

From the mechanism described, will. be apparent that there is provided means automatically operated by the music sheet after the end of the roll has been reached for rewinding the unwound music roll and that. the same is actuated by an ordinary music sheet requiring no particular mot ification therefor, although it is to be dis tinctly understood that the music sheet might be modified in any way desired and provided with any means suitable therctor in order to effect a movement of the valve 90 to admit air to the tube 87.

Attention is called to the fact that as the extension 81 is not secured to. but merely contacts with, the portion 82 carried by the rod 40. the finger piece 41-3 may be manually manipulated to throw into operation the re winding mechanism so that either the manual or automatic means may be used at the will of the operator, and moreover, any particular desired portions of the selection may be replayed.

Many variations in the details of the mechanism described and in the location of the various parts may be used without dogJziitii1g from the spirit and scope of this invention and the parts thereof may be made adjustable to adapt the device to any different locations of any of the parts thereo'f. Moreover, the mechanism might be arranged so that the roller 9-1 would contact vith the upper side of. the music sheet and be operated'at the end of the music roll to open the valve 90. while various other modifications and rearrangements of various parts of the mechanism without departing from its constructive and operative prin ciples will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, 1'. claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a mechanical musical instrument employing a music roll consisting of a music sheet having perforated and imperforate portions and a roller on which the sheet is initially wound, and having mechanism operative to unwind the music sheet including means to reverse its operation to rewind the music roll when the unwinding thereof has been comnleted, the combination therewith of auton'ia-tic means normally inoperative but rendered ope "ative by contact with imperforate portions of said music sheet for throwing into operation said rewinding mechanism, said means including a part with which the music sheet engages at the terminus of the initial unwinding thereof.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument employing a music sheet and a pair of rollers on one of which said sheet is initially wound and operatively attached and means to rotate said rollers to unwind the music sheet, the combination with means to reverse the direction of rotation of the rollers to rewind the sheet, of automatic means for actuating said reversing and rewinding mechanism, s id means being normally inactive but rendered operative by engaging contact of a part thereof with the surface of the music sheet at the terminus of the initial unwinding thereof, and manual means independ ently of the music sheet for actuating said reversing and rewinding mechanism, said manual means being operable independently of said automatic means.

8. In a mechanical, musical instrument employing a music sheet initially secured by one end to a let-oif roller and wound thereon, and adapted to be operatively engaged at its other end bv a take-up roller, the comhination therewith of means to actuate the take-up roller and unwind said music sheet from the let-off roller, means to reverse the movement of the music sheet to rewind it on. the let-ofi roller, and means normally inactive but rendered operative by contact with the music sheet with which it is brought into surface engagement at the terminus of the first mentioned unwinding operation, automatically putting out of operation said unwinding mechanism and throwing into operation said rewinding mechanism.

4:. In a player piano employing a music sheet, a pair of rollers on one of which said sheet is initially wound and to which it is operatively attached, means to rotate said rollers to unwind the sheet, means to reverse the rotation of said rollers to rewind the sheet, after the initial unwinding has been completed, pneumatic means normally inactive but adapted when operative to directly actuate said reversing and rewindin g mechanism, and mechanical means operated by contact with imperforate portions of the music sheet, when fully unwound, and automatically actuating said pneumatic means.

5. In a player piano employing a music sheet and a pair of rollers on one of which said sheet is initially wound and operative 1y attached, and having mechanism operative to rewind the music roll after it has been fully unwound, the combination therewith of automatic means for throwing into operation said rewinding mechanism, said automatic means including a pneumatic operable by a change of the pneumatic pressure therein, and a valvular device for controlling said pressure, said device includin a movable valve seat having an actuating part operated by Contact with imperforate portions of the music sheet for actuating said valve.

6. In a player piano, the combination of a motor, a music sheet including a roller on which it is initially wound and operat-ively attached, a take-up roll, means to drive either of said rolls from said motor to unwind or rewind the music sheet, pneumatic means having a movable part actuated by contact of the music sheet and operating antomatically to throw in operation said rewinding means after the completion of the previous unwinding thereof, and means to effect a maximum speed of the motor during the operation of said rewinding means.

7. An automatic rerolling device for player pianos employing a perforated music sheet incliuling a roller on which it is initially wound and operatively attached, a motor, a shaft driven to reroll the music sheet, means to drive said shaft from said motor and automatic means normally inactive but made operative by the music sheet when the previous unwinding thereof has been effected, said means including a pneumatic, and mechanical means adapted to engage the music sheet for actuating said pneumatic.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument employing a music sheet initially secured by one end to a let-off roller and wound thereon and adapted to be opcrativcly engaged at its other end by a take-up roller, including means to operate said rollers to unwind the music sheet and means to reverse the movement of said rollers to rewind the music sheet, the combination therewith of automatically acting means for throwing out of operation said unwinding means and throwing into operation said rewinding means, including a pneumatic, a valvular device for controlling the operation of said pneumatic and means forming an open part thereof adapted to be brought into engagement with the music sheet for actuating said pneumatic.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of June, A. D. 1918.

OTIS M. KENNEDY. 

